ESPN's Shelley Smith profiled Cubs OF Sammy Sosa's
appeal in Japan and said, "Home runs, hustle and a great
smile -- all reasons why the Japanese have embraced Sammy
Sosa. But most of all they adore him because, for all the
times America's other home run hitter, Mark McGwire, has
said no to them, Sammy Sosa has stepped up and said yes."
Sosa's agent Adam Katz: "[The Japanese fans] were
disappointed that McGwire couldn't get there and Sammy was
excited about it, always wanted to go, off he went." Smith
said that Sosa "has also become an effective pitchman in
Japan," as he has "endorsement deals with several major
[Japanese] companies" ("SportsCenter," 3/27). In Chicago,
Ron Rapoport writes, "This trip isn't going to hurt either
Sosa or baseball. In Michael Jordan's heyday, many NBA
products got a marketing lift. Baseball is hoping for
something similar from Sosa" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/28).
THREE STARS: In N.Y., Anthony McCarron profiles Yankees
SS Derek Jeter, who is "one of the few ballplayers who can
step out of The Sporting News and local sports sections and
into magazines such as Ebony," which runs a story on him in
the April issue under the header, "Derek Jeter: Baseball's
Hottest Heartthrob" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/28). Jeter is
joined by Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra and Mariners SS Alex
Rodriguez on the cover of this month's GQ under the header,
"Three (Rich) Amigos." GQ's Peter Richmond writes that the
three "are baseball's new guard. Exotic to look at,
thoughtful and charismatic, they have stormed the stadiums
and, just maybe, saved the game" (GQ, 4/00). SFX Sports
Group Dir of Talent Marketing Steve Rosner said that the
firm has "signed a flurry of endorsement deals" for
Garciaparra, including pacts with Microsoft and Amtrak,
bringing the value of his "marketing portfolio" to $2.5M
(Liz Mullen, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/27 issue).
